Ever been to a water spa? If not we need to sit down together and have a chat.

Body Blitz courtesy of AOL

Water spas are not just about hot-tubbing. They bring us various techniques to relax our senses, with each pool targeting a particular treatment. But what makes this different to your generic spa, is that you get the best of both worlds – utter tranquility and relaxation, plus the independence to move around at your own pace amongst friends. Here are some Toronto favourites to visit after an icy cold, blustery day:

Body Blitz (Adelaide at Portland)
A women’s only spa – perfect for a date with the girls. They tend to get busy on the weekends so a midweek, after work venture is best. (On Tuesday’s it’s cheaper at only $38) Their smoothies are amazing as well.

Hammam Spa (King at Bathurst)
This form of water spa bases its therapy on traditional Turkish baths that involve more of a social steam amongst friends. Their steam contains essential oils and promises to release built up stress and toxins (i.e. head here when hungover). It’s co-ed too, which makes it steamy in more ways than one.

Sweetgrass Spa (Queen at Jarvis)
Their pool here is of the ozonated variety (meaning it’s salt-water, apparently) and their treatments seem to appeal to the younger crowd – with tanning cream massages, and prices that aren’t obscene.

Elmwood Spa (Yonge at Elm)
Similar to Body Blitz, but slightly cheaper. Their whirlpools are fairly generic (at only $25 a visit) but are free to use with any spa treatment. It’s also pretty cute how they advertise that “Bringing a Man” will save you an additional 25% in January.

Le Scandinave (Collingwood)
Okay, sorry this one is a little outside of Toronto. But well worth the drive! Surrounded by ski hills and glowing fire pits this spa takes the cake. Their steam room fills your lungs with menthol to the point where you feel you’ve inhaled a hundred Halls cough-drops, and their flowing waterfalls make for a picturesque escape.

Le Scandinave courtesy of Blue Mountain Chalets

XoXo
– The Cowgirls